Electric apparatus for motor-vehicles.



, E. A. HALBLEIB. ELECTRTC APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IU-NE L3, 1914.

1,150,676, Patented Aug. 17,1915.

2 sHEETsfs'HEET E. HLBLEIB.

ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHCLES.

APPL'ICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1914.

2 sHEETs sHEET 2.

a'anted Aug. l?, 1915.

WH, l

Araviran PATENT ornion EDVT ARD A. HALBLEIB, OF ROCHESTER. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NORTH EAST ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. This invention relates to electric apparatus, employed in connection with motorvehicles, in which a dynamo-electric machine is connected with the engine of the vehicle in such a manner that it may be employed either as an electric generator, when driven .by power derived from the engine, or as an electric motor to furnish power by which the engine may be started,or for both of these purposes.

The object of the invention is to produce electric apparatus, including a dynamoelectric machine, so constructed and arranged that it may be easily -applied to a motor-vehicle in a convenient and accessible position at the end thereof, without interfering with any of the internal arrangements of the vehicle, and that the apparatus, when so mounted, shall be connected with' the engine of the vehicle in a simple and efficient manner.

To the foregoing ends I employ an arrangement in which a dynamo-electric machine, mounted at the end of the vehicle at which the crank-shaft of the engine is accessible-the forward end as vehicles are commonly constructed-is arranged with its armature-shaft parallel with the axis of the engine-shaft, andin which the end of the armature-shaft most remote from the engine-shaft -is connected, by means of suitable gearing, With a power-shaft extending rearwardly to the engine-shaft. An arrangement of universal joints, by which the power-shaft is connected with the gearing 'and with the`engine-shaft, together with various other features of construction which contribute to the practical success of the apparatus, will be set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the present invention,l together with the adjacent portionsof a motor-vehicle upon which. it

s mounted; Eig. 2 is a front-elevation of the apparatus, on a larger'scale than Fig. 1, with parts broken away to show the in- Specicator. of Letters Patent.

Application led June 13, 1914.

Serial No. 844,994.

terior construction; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, together with adjacent parts of the motor-vehicle.

The illustrated embodiment of the inven- Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

tion comprisesla dynamo-electric machine 5 of the inclosed type. No other electrical features of the apparatus are illustrated and described herein, as it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this dynamo may be employed, in any ordinary or suitable manner, as either a generator or an electric motor, or both, in connection'with a suitably arranged battery and other electrical apparatus.

rlhe armature-shaft of the dynamo is connected by gearing, including sprocket- -wheels and a. chain 6, with a power-shaft 7 which extends rearwardly to the forward 4end of a shaft 8,- which will be understood to illustrate the crank-shaft of the engine as it is usually locatedA in a motor-vehicle. This engine-shaft terminates slightly below, and in the rear of, atransverse member l() of theframe of the vehicle, which passes in the usual manner beneath the radiator, and this frame-member is fixed, at its ends, to the usual side frame-members 13 of the vehicle.

The dynamo is supported, indirectly, by a base 9 in the form of a flanged and recessed casting, and the rear end of this baseis supported by bolts 11, which pass throughv the rear flange on the base and through a .flange on the frame-member 10, as shown in Fig. 3. The forward end of the base is supported by a cross-bar 12, of which the ends are 'fixed to the side frame-members 13 of thevehicle, while its middle portion' passes through clamps Hon the base.v The' base makes a partial housing for the 'dynamo and the gearing, which is completed by a cover 15 removably secured in ordinary or suitable means.

The gearing by which the dynamo is connected with the power-shaft 7 comprises a sprocket-wheel 16, fixed on the forward end of the armature-shaft and connected, by the chain 6 with a sprocket-wheel 17 which is housed within a downwardly-extending part 18 of the base 9. The sprocket wheel 17 is fixed on a short countershaft 19 journaled in ball-bearings in the housing 18, and this countershaft is connected, in tur-n, with vthe power-shaft 7 by meansV ofta universal place. by any joint, u hile a similar universal joint connects the rear end of the power-shaft with the engine-shaft 8. ',The forward joint comprises an inner member 20 having the form of. a gear-wheel or pinion, which is fixed to the shaft 19, while the outer joint-member is iin the form of a shell 21 fixed to the shaft 7, this shell having internal gear-like teeth which mesh with the teeth of the part 20.- These teeth fit with sufficient looseness to permit a substantial relative rocking movement of the shafts 7 and 19, and they do not restrict relative longitudinal movement of the shafts, but at the same time they secure the shaftstogether against relative rotation.

The rear universal joint comprises louter and inner members 22 and 23, similar to the parts 21.an'dj` 20 and fastened, respectively, to the shaft 7 and to a 'shell 2l. This shell incloses the enlargement 25, on the forward end of the engine-shaft, which is usually provided for the purpose of engagement with a hand-crank for starting the en- I gine, and the shell and the enlargement are ffastened together lby a transverse pin 26.

In order to restrict longitudinal movement of-tlie power-shaft. 7, and to avoid objectionable looseness and'rattling in this member' while at the same time permitting the necessary relative movements of the parts to accommodate `them to various changes.in position incidental to the opera tion-of the machinery, a cushion is interposed between the members of each universal joint, this cushion being made of yielding material, 'for which purpose felt is welll adapted. The felt is sutiiciently `firm to maintain a constant slight pressure against the ends of the power-shafts, and thus prevent it from rattling longitudinally, while at the same time it will yield to absorb any' slight longitudinal movement which may occur in 'the engine-shaft when the engineis running, or to accommodate itself to any relatiyeangular movement of the parts due to springing of the vehicle-frame.

In addition ,o performing the function just described, of absorbent material, may be saturated with lubricating oil, which they .will supply gradually to the bearing-surfaces of the uni versal joints.

To prevent the admission of dirt or moisture to the forward Auniversal joint, which is located in an eXposed'position, on the vehicle, I employ a washer 28 of felt orothei" yielding material, which is seated in a recess formed by 'a flange 29 which projects loosely around the joint-member 27, and the felt washer abuts against the forward edge Jf this joint-member, as shown n Fig 3, thus not only excluding grit and noisture from the joint, but also serving t retain lubricant therein.'

he cushions 27, being madel of the shaft 7, this perforated portion being sufi'iciently large to afford clearance around the shaft, as shown in Fig. 3. This gage is so located that when the power-shaft 7 is exactly parallel with the armature-shaft of the dynamo, it will be exactly concentric with the perforation in the gage. Consequently, ifthe base 9 has been mounted and adjusted to hold the armature-shaft of the dynamo parallel with the side frame-ineinbers 13, an adjustment which may be easily made by bending the cross-barv 12 more or less if necessary, it will be known, ifthc gage is in proper concentric relation tc the power-shaft, that everything is lined up correctly, the power-shaft and the countershaft being axially in alinement with the engine-shaft, so as to minimize the wear and loss of power in the connections between the shafts. A

In order that the apparatus may be readily adapted and fitted to motor-vehicles of various designs, one of the universal joints is fitted to the power-shaft in such a way that its position may be readily changed, and the length of the shaft adjusted according to the circumstances. For this purpose the coupling-member 21 is fastened to, the power-shaft by a key 31, which engages a key-way 32 in the shaft. The shaft is made originally of the greatest length which may be necessary, and the key-way is elongated,4 as shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly, in fitting the apparatus to the vehicle, the shaft may be cut to the required length, and the jointmember keyed .to it wherever this may be necessary. For additinal security a pin is preferably passed through the jointmembei` and the shaft, as shown in Fig. 3.4

In some cases it may be necessary toemploy the usual hand-crank in starting the enginenwhen the dynamo is used only as an electric generator, or in the casehof fai-lure of some part of the apparatus whenit is designed for use also as a starting-motor. Accordingly, the forward endvfof the countershaft 19 is provided with a notched shell 38, of the usual form, to receive the crank,

the shaft being also bored to receive a dowel or extension from the crank. The parts just described are normally inclosed by a cover 34, which is removably held` in place izo Lieder/e side, on a rod 37 xed in lugs on the base,

while the cradle is supported, at the other ,or casing of the dynamo, and the dynamo is fixed in the cradle by means of a metal strap 44, which is divided in the middle and connected by a bolt 45, by which it may be subjected to tension so as to clamp the generator firmly against the cradle and prevent rotation of the generator.

iVhile the vertical adjustment of the cradle provides for movement ot the d vnamo and the armature-shaft to vary the distance from the countershaiftli), and consequently adjust the tension oi the chains (i, it is (.lesirab-le to provide means for sustaining the armature-shaft against the pull of the chain, when the apparat-us is in operation, more directly and .rigidly than can be done through the cradle. Accordingly, the dynamo is provided at its forward end with an arm 4l integral with the dynamo-casing, and this arm has, at itsA lower end, an inclined or eccentric surface 42, which rests against a shoulder 43- on the base 9. "l`he arm and the shoulder lie so nearly in the plane of the sprocket-chain that they constitute rigid abutmcnts through which the pull ot the `chain is siiistained 'without strain on the cradle or on other parts of the mechanism. fhen the cradle is vertically adjusted to take up slack in the chain tl x abutments may also be adjusted, owing to the fact that the dynamo is rotatabl y mounted on the cradle. For this purpose it is necessary only to loosen the bolt 45, whereupon the dynamo may be turned, thus causing the arm 41, in consequence of its eccentric bearing-surface, to properly engage. theshoulder whatever the vertical position oi the generator.

The location of the gearing which connects the armature-shaflt with the powershait, at the outer end oi the armatureslial't, that is, at the end more remoto from the engine-shaft, While not the most direct and obvious arrangement, is one which has substantial practical advantages, for not only does it bringr the gearing in a position 'in which -it is readily accessible 'for the purpose ol.i -lubrication and adjustment, but it also j n'ovides :tor the use ot apower-shat't olinaximum length, and this, in turn` 'minimizes the e'l'cct, on the universal joints, or

any slight inaccuracy in alinement of the countershaft and the engine-shaft due to rarelessness in adjusting the apparatus, or to the shocks to which it is subjected when in use. rIihe arrangement provides, further, for a position of the dynamo as close as possible to the front of the'vehicle, thus contributing to the neat and compact appearance in the'aparatus.

My invention is not limited to the. einbodiment thereof hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

1 In a; inotor-fglvehicle, the combination, with an engine-shaft accessible at the end of the vehicle, ot' a dynamo-electric ma.- ehine; a base, supporting thedynamo with its a rmature-shaft in substantially horizontal tore-and-aft positionand provided, be

low the dynamo, with bearings for a counter-shaft; a cou'ntershaft journaled in said bearings: gearing connectingftlle countershat't with the forward end ofthe armatureshalt; means for supporting the base upon the vehicle-trame, at the end thereof, with the (anmtershatt approximately in line with the engine-shaft; and a power-shaft extending from the conntershaft to the enginesha 'li't and connected by universal joints with said shafts.

2. ln a motor-vehicle,v the combination, with an engine-shaft accessible at the end ot the vehicle, a transverse. frame-member adjacent said shaft, and side Jrame-membersv projecting at said end oi' the vehicle, of a dynamo-electric machine; a base supporting said machine and fixed, at one end, to said transverse frame-member; a cross-bar supporting the opposite end of the base and mounted, at its ends, on said projecting side frame-meinbers, the dynamo-electric machine being mounted with its arinattire-shaft substantially parallel with the axis of the engine-shaft; gearing connected with, and located near, the end of the armature-shaft remote lrom the engine-shaft; and a powershaft connectiiig said gearing with the engine-shaft and lying substantially in line therewith and below said base.

3. ln a motor-vehicle.e the combination,

with an engine-shaft actiessible at the end 4: i ratione/e engine-shaft; and a gage-men'iber connected with the dynamo-electric machine and having a part loosely encircling, but not normeans for supporting said machine upon the exterior of the vehicle, with its armature-shaft substantially'. parallel with the axis of said engine-shaft; gearing connected With, and located near, the end of the armature-shaft remote from the engine-shaft; a

power-shaft extending rearwardly from the gearing to the engine-shaft; universal joints connecting the ends of the power-shaft, re-

spectively, with the gearing and the enginesha't, said universal joints each comprising two interengaging members ormed to prevent relative rotation but to permit tree relative longitudinal movement; and a cushion' of yielding material located between the members of each joint to limit longitudinal movement of the power-shaft.

5. Electric apparatus, for a motor-vehicle, having, in combination., a rigid base; a countershat't journaled thereon and carrying a s} )1ocketwheel; a dynamo-electric machine; a sprocket-wheel on the armaturesha'ft of said machine; a chain connecting the sprocket-Wheels; a cradle pivoted to the base on an axis parallel with the axes of the countersha'ft and the armature-shaft and formed to receive and support the dynamoelectric machine, said machine being rotatable, in said cradle, substantially about its armature-axis; means connectii'ig the cradle with the base and normally preventing pivotal movement of the cradle, but adjustable to swing the cradle in a direction to vary the distance between the armature-shaft and theI counter-shaft; means normalljv preventing rotation of the dynamo-electric machine in the cradle; and an abutment, on said machine, having a surface eccentric to the armature-axis and'adapted to engage a surface of the base, sai-d abutment being located approximately in the. plane oi? the sprocketchain so as to sustain 'the pull thereof and being adjustable, by rotation of the dynamoelectric machine in the cradle, to maintain it in operative position in the various adjusted positions ot tbe cradle.

6. In a motor-vehicle. the combination, with an engine-shaft accessible at the end of a vehicle, olf a dynamo-electric machine; a base,v supperW the dynamo with is armature-shaft in substai all): horizontal foreand-ait position, and provided, below the dynamo, with bearings 'loi' a eountershait; a countei a'l't 'f I' .aled in said bearings and pa'i'al the armature-shaft; sproclmt-cliaiu; connecting said shafts; adjustable connectiei s between the dynamo and the base to permit the dynamo to be moved toward or from the countershaft to adjust the chain.; means for supporting the base on ille irame ot the vehicle ,with the counterslia'lft suljistantiall \7 alined vwith 'the engine-shalt; a power-shaft con.-

necting the engine-shaft with the countershait; and a removable cover lined to the base and iin-losing the dynamo and the chain-gearing. j

ln testimoniv whereof, l aliix my signature in presence oll iwe witnesses.

li l )lll-ill, n. HALBLEIB.

iiitnesses Finxipu i?. Density, D. Gram-tic. 

